Warhammer 40K: ‘Daemon Weapons’ Get A Rework
Games Workshop is teasing a Daemon Weapon Rework for Chaos Space Marines. Get ready for more power if you pay the price.
Chaos Space Marines have traded their loyalty for more power in their deals with the Daemons of the Warp. Their new Daemon Weapon rules reflect how tense that relationship can be. As long as the Marines can keep their Daemons in check it’s mostly fine. But when their will falters the Daemons push back.
Today, we’re getting a preview of how the Daemon Weapons will work in the upcoming Chaos Space Marine codex. Are you ready to make a deal with the Daemons of the Warp?
“Bending a daemon to your will is a tricky business, as the immortal creatures of the empyrean are beings of pure Chaos who have known true freedom since the first thinking beings crawled from the mud. Wielding a Daemon Weapon is therefore a constant battle of wills – the bearer must wrestle their unwilling compatriot into line, lest their very soul become a tasty lunch box”
Daemon Weapon Rework
The new Daemon Weapon rules will require you to actually use the Leadership Stat. Personally, I’m a little shocked as the Leadership stat is kind of forgotten about. Until you’re unit is about to break anyhow. But now, Chaos Space Marine players will actually have to know that stat — at least for characters equipped with a Daemon Weapon.
It’s a simple 2D6 check and if you fail you’ve got two options: Take D3 mortal wounds and fight normally or opt to fight without your super-charged Daemon Weapon.
This is a neat trade off. In previous editions you’d just lose the ability to attack at all. Or you’d get hit by your own weapon. Neither result was great. At least now you’ll get to choose if you want to take damage or start a slap-fight. But you don’t lose your chance to attack which is nice.
It’s not just the Daemon Weapon rule that has been updated as there are also some new relic Daemon Weapons to wield. There’s one for each of the Chaos and one more for those Chaos Undivided followers. Oh, and funny thing about Daemon Weapons…they can change shape to fit whatever the wielder is wielding.
“Each of these five Relics can be given to one of your characters – but while mortal Relics are usually tied to a specific type of weapon, the mutable nature of daemonhood allows you to make a daemon weapon from almost any kind of melee masher.”
How About Some Examples
So how about we look at a few examples of the Daemon weapons? First up we have Ul’o’cca, The Black. This one’s for all those Undivided Followers out there.
It’s a simple-yet-effective Daemon Weapon. Each attack has the ability to generate an extra mortal wound. It’s not flashy but if your character is doing 5 or 6 attacks that’s the potential to really wrack-up the mortals. Keep in mind that stacks with whatever the weapon is so choose wisely.
If you happen to follow Slaanesh and also pack two (or more) weapons perhaps you’d be interested in a pair of Daemon Weapons. Meet Thaa’ris and Rhi’ol:
With these weapons EACH of your now Daemon Weapons gets an additional D3 attacks. If you wanted to keep it simple maybe just take a pair of Lightning Claws as that should net your 2D3 attacks. Or get wild and put on a Power Maul and Power Sword — I dunno, you do you!
There are also many, many more Relics for the Chaos Space Marines to choose from including unique ones for various Legions. Chaos Space Marines are going to be spoiled for choice.
There’s one more Daemon Weapon Rework we should talk about and that is Drach’nyen. Not only is it one of the most powerful Daemon Weapons around, it’s wield by Abaddon. And his Iron Will is so strong he’s got his own special Daemon Weapon rule. Turns out he won’t need to roll to see if he stays in control of Drach’nyen! No more Abaddon slapping himself or losing attacks in combat. Watch out for this guy…
The Chaos Space Marine Codex is coming soon…
